Open day on Spirit aids fund-raising effort

Monday 21st June 2010, 2:29PM BST.

Flying the flag for the RNLI is lifeboat fan Leo Bradshaw, 5, one of those who went on board the Spirit of Guernsey on Saturday. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0986586)

ISLANDERS had an opportunity to explore the lifeboat and talk to its crew as part of the annual Spirit of Guernsey flag day.

The vessel was brought into the Victoria Marina and people were allowed to go on board and see how money raised by the local community was put to good use.

‘We do this every summer for one day to give people the chance to see what all their fund-raising is for,’ said harbour master and lifeboat operations manager Captain Peter Gill .

The lifeboat is funded purely through donations and legacies so Captain Gill said it was important to give islanders access to it.

He said the Spirit of Guernsey was called out on ‘shouts’ about 25 times a year and on average each trip cost about £5,800.